The agency plans to update regulations to make it easier for grant recipients to access funds.

A proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would streamline requirements for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Indian Community Development Block Grant Programs (ICDBG) in an effort to make federal assistance easier to access and promote economic development.
As Demetria Lester writes in MReport, “These updates would improve the ability of CDBG grantees to implement funding more effectively and efficiently, making it easier for states and localities to use CDBG or Section 108 Loan Guarantee funding to invest in underserved areas. Section 108 allows communities to access up to five times their annual CDBG allocation via low-interest loans for eligible activities and is a valuable tool in spurring economic development and job creation.”
The proposed changes would modernize a program not substantially updated since 1995.
FULL STORY: HUD Proposes Rule to Advance Economic Development in Underserved Communities

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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